Animal: 8 of the most engaging Ranbir Kapoor films to stream before you watch ‘Animal’

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal starring Ranbir Kapoor is set for release on the 1st of December, with its promotional material garnering much intrigue from film audiences everywhere. The teaser and trailer for the film promise a violent opus revolving around a complicated father-son relationship and a gritty performance from Ranbir Kapoor. Anil Kapoor plays the role of Ranbir’s father, with Rashmika Mandanna serving as the film's female lead. Film enthusiasts have been speculating about the nature of Bobby Deol’s mysterious character that has been featured in the promos, featuring Bobby in a bloody yet silent persona. While we await the arrival of Animal on the silver screen, let's take a look at 8 Ranbir Kapoor films on streaming platforms.

Barfi! (2012) - Netflix

This Anurag Basu directorial venture starring Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D'Cruz alongside Ranbir Kapoor in prominent roles garnered much critical and commercial success. Set in 1970s Kolkata, the film revolves around the deaf and mute Barfii and his relationships with two women, Shruti and Jhilmil. Critics lauded Ranbir and Priyanka's performances in particular, along with the film's refreshing tone and music.

Sanju (2018) - Disney+ Hotstar

The 2018 Hindi film is a biography of the controversial Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt. Even before the film hit theatres and garnered box office success, fans were in awe of Ranbir Kapoor’s transformation to resemble Sanjay Dutt – both in terms of his appearance and his mannerisms. This Rajkumar Hirani directorial also features performances from Vicky Kaushal, Anushka Sharma, Dia Mirza, Jim Sarbh, and Paresh Rawal among others.

Wake Up Sid (2009) - Netflix

The directorial debut of long-time collaborator Ayan Mukerji, places Ranbir Kapoor's eponymous protagonist in Wake Up Sid in contemporary Mumbai, depicting a coming-of-age tale that sees him go from an entitled rich college brat to a responsible adult with the help of Aisha Bannerji – an aspiring writer from Kolkata played by Konkona Sen Sharma. The film launched Ayan Mukerji’s career to mainstream recognition.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) - Netflix & Amazon Prime Video

The next Ayan Mukerji-Ranbir Kapoor collaboration came in 2013, in the form of the successful romantic comedy film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. The film revolves around Bunny, played by Ranbir, and Naina, played by Deepika Padukone; as they meet during a trekking trip, with the introverted Naina falling in love with Bunny. However, Bunny’s thirst for adventure drives them apart, and their paths cross once again when they meet at a friend's wedding years later. The film also features Aditya Roy Kapur and Kalki Koechlin in prominent roles.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) - Netflix & Amazon Prime Video

This Karan Johar romantic drama follows Alizeh, an independent woman played by Anushka Sharma, and Ayan, a naive musician played by Ranbir Kapoor, as they meet in New York and form a nearly inseparable bond. However, they soon experience love, heartbreak, and everything in between. The film also features Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in a prominent role, along with Fawad Khan.

Rockstar (2011) - JioCinema, ZEE5, & Amazon Prime Video

Boasting a soundtrack from AR Rahman that has become iconic, Rockstar is a romantic drama that follows the life of a simpleton named Janardhan. However his eventual transformation into the rockstar known as Jordan takes a downward spiral of self-destruction. Written and directed by Imtiaz Ali, the film features a stellar performance from Ranbir Kapoor as the troubled Jordan, alongside performances from Nargis Fakhri, Aditi Rao Hydari, Piyush Mishra, Shernaz Patel, Kumud Mishra, and Shammi Kapoor in a posthumous screen appearance.

Tamasha (2015) - Netflix & ZEE5

Following the success of Rockstar, Ranbir Kapoor and Imtiaz Ali collaborated to create this coming-of-age romantic drama film, once again boasting a soundtrack from AR Rahman. The film follows Ved and Tara as they fall in love on a holiday to Corsica, but keep their real identities a secret. When Tara returns to Delhi to meet Ved, she finds a different version of him who is attempting to find himself. The film features performances from Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles.

Brahmāstra: Part One - Shiva (2022) - Disney+ Hotstar

The most recent and third collaboration between Ayan Mukerji and Ranbir Kapoor takes us on a fantasy-action adventure inspired by Hindu mythology. Brahmāstra: Part One - Shiva follows an orphaned musician named Shiva, played by Ranbir Kapoor, who soon realises that he is an astra – a weapon of great power. He was soon entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the most powerful astra, the Brahmāstra, from falling into the wrong hands. Ranbir Kapoor is supported by a great cast that includes Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Nagarjuna Akkineni, and cameo appearances from Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.

Well that's all for this episode, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

Written by Sidharth AR